Method and apparatus for measuring materials floating on bodies of water

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for measuring materials of high viscosity floating on bodies of water are to provide a solution enabling a reliable monitoring of the water surface of standing and running bodies of water using simple means. This is achieved by means of the method in that the water surface of the body of water is excited by means of an oscillating device and in that the surface waves reflecting on the water surface are measured.

We claim: 
     
       1. Method for measuring materials floating on bodies of water, which materials are highly viscous relative to water, characterized in that a water surface of a body of water is excited by means of an oscillating device; that the surface waves reflecting on the water surface are measured; and that the material movements of the water surface are mechanically and/or electronically damped during the surface wave measurement. 
     
     
       2. Method for measuring materials floating on bodies of water, which materials are highly viscous relative to water, characterized in that an unconfined water surface of a body of water is excited by means of an oscillating device; that the surface waves relfecting on the water surface are measured; and that the reflecting surface waves are compared with stored reference surface waves of non-contaminated water. 
     
     
       3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the body of water is excited to oscillation by means of sound waves. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus for measuring materials floating on bodies of water, which materials are highly viscous relative to water, characterized by comprising an oscillating device to be arranged on or below an unconfined water surface of a body of water for exciting the water surface; a measurement device to be arranged on the water surface for measuring surface wave reflecting on the water surface; and an evaluating device for comparing the reflecting surface waves with stored reference surface waves of non-contaminated water. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the oscillating device (4) and the surface wave measuring device (7) are arranged so as to float under or on the water surface (3). 
     
     
       6. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the oscillating device (4) and the surface wave measuring device (7) are arranged on reciprocal floats (6). 
     
     
       7. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the oscillating device (4) is constructed as a watertight loudspeaker. 
     
     
       8. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the surface wave measuring device (7) is formed by electrodes which are acted upon with current and are arranged in the area above the oscillating device (4) so as to be immersed below the water surface (3). 
     
     
       9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the electrodes (7) can be acted upon by alternating current and are connected to an evaluating device (10) via a rectifier (14) and electrical filters (16, 17, 18).